It might be hard for younger readers to accept this, but
its true -- there was a time when you could play a whole album before you put down
your hard-earned cash to buy it. Even more shockingly, this was in the days of vinyl, when
clumsy handling could damage the disc permanently. No one had to rely solely on the words
of a friend or critic in buying a disc.

Today you can sample just about any song thats
available, or at least the first 30 seconds. But in addition to hearing a truncated
version, you also have to accept less-than-perfect sound through computer speakers or
headphones. Thats why I was delighted to find that the tried-and-true sampler
recording still exists, in both old and new formats! Heres how samplers helped me
find some great recordings.

The first sampler I received was from the German
recording company Stockfisch Records (Closerto the Music, Vol. 3,
Stockfisch Hybrid Multichannel SACD SFRF 357.4009.2, ****). It was a hybrid SACD and
featured 11 Stockfisch artists performing 18 songs, making it a very full disc. The
artists who struck me immediately were Sara K and Allan Taylor, both of whom have new
recordings on the label. Sara K, who used to be contracted to Chesky Records, made quite a
name as the high priestess of personal folk songs. She has a lovely yet sturdy voice,
which she can shade at will, and she writes accessible music that addresses the human
condition by tapping into folk, pop, and jazz. Sara K has said that Made in the Shade
(Stockfisch Hybrid Multichannel SACD SFR 357.4052.2, ****1/2) will be her last album. And
though well surely miss her words and voice, this set is a strong final statement
that will keep her in our memory. The
instrumentation is delicate, and she uses many different instruments to create a dreamlike
effect, which Stockfisch guru GŁnter Pauler has caught perfectly in his recording. From
the intricate harp filigree in "Watching You Fall Into Sleep" to the confident,
striding piano and bass of "Manchild" and the shimmering Hammond organ backdrop
for "Sizzlin," every effect can be clearly heard in a multichannel
recording thats a model of good taste and proper engineering. But if youre
still dealing with only two channels, the mix will sound good in both SACD and CD format.
(And in case anyone is still confused, a hybrid SACD is a Super Audio CD that can be
played on any CD or DVD player.)

Allan Taylors cuts on the sampler also intrigued me,
especially "Winter" from his current recording, Leaving at Dawn (Stockfisch
Hybrid Multichannel SACD SFR 357.4057.2, ****). Taylor is a troubadour who uses his rich
voice to tell stories anyone can relate to. "The Almost Man" is a heartfelt song
that responds to the death of Taylors father in an ingenious and unexpected way.
"New York in the Seventies" is a lovely remembrance of a time gone by, while
"The Last of the Privateers" compares the traveling folk singer to a pirate
passing through town. Throughout the set, Taylor
proves hes a master of words, both in writing and in singing. He projects his
thoughts clearly enough for anyone to understand, and he communicates directly with his
listeners through understatement rather than histrionics.

Around the time the Stockfisch sampler arrived, I
discovered an online jazz and blues sampler from HDtracks. It contains seven tracks, all
in CD quality sound (****), and you can download
it for free. I enjoyed all the tracks on this download, but a couple struck me as
must-haves. One was a self-titled album by David Johansen and the Harry Smiths (Chesky
Records JD196, ****). This set of traditional blues songs is sung and played with total
low-key conviction.Youll find outstanding versions of "Delta," "Well
Ive Been To Memphis," "Old Dog Blue," and the song on the sampler,
"Oh Death." Johansen also perfectly captures the hopeless feelings of a
down-and-out alcoholic in "Buy Me a Drink." The recording, done in David Cheskys favorite New York City
location, Saint Peters Church, is noticeably intimate with perfect balance between
the voices and accompanying instruments. Thanks to the analog space around the vocals and
instrumentation, the sound has a warm ambience and perfect presence. And though the
sampler track was in CD-quality sound, the download is offered in 24/96 HD. Of course, you
can also buy the hybrid multichannel SACD. For multichannel, Chesky believes in 4.0 for
channel distribution, and it works just fine here.

The other album I chose from the sampler was Unauthorized
(Chesky JD189, ****) by Daves True Story, a duo comprising guitarist David Cantor
and vocalist Kelly Flint. Drums, trumpet, sax, vibraphone, and other instruments are added
for a tight, swinging sound thats mellow to the max. The musicians, high on finesse
and never lacking for rhythm, make difficult licks sound natural and easy. Flints
voice, which is perky, sultry, and always appealing, is more than a little reminiscent of
Peggy Lee. Once again, Chesky has opted for Saint Peters Church and 4.0, and the
resulting sound is warm yet clear as can be. The string bass is particularly focused --
not too much, not too little. And again the download is HD (24/96), or you can buy a
hybrid SACD.

These are four exceptional albums Id probably have
never found without first hearing the cuts on samplers. The snippets you find just about
everywhere are certainly worthwhile, but a sample you can play through your regular sound
system is even more conclusive in presenting an accurate image of the artists and their
music. To twist an old phrase, a listen is worth a thousand words. Bring on the samplers.